Thread: Last US troops leave Iraq

This is it. Finally we're out of Iraq. This morning the last US troops left Iraq and crossed into Kuwait.

KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait — The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border to neighboring Kuwait at daybreak Sunday, whooping, fist bumping and hugging each other in a burst of joy and relief. Their exit marked the end of a bitterly divisive war that raged for nearly nine years and left Iraq shattered, with troubling questions lingering over whether the Arab nation will remain a steadfast U.S. ally.

The mission cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the U.S. Treasury. The question of whether it was worth it all is yet unanswered.

Capt. Mark Askew, a 28-year-old from Tampa, Florida who was among the last soldiers to leave, said the answer to that question will depend on what type of country and government Iraq ends up with years from now, whether they are democratic, respect human rights and are considered an American ally.

"It depends on what Iraq does after we leave," he said, speaking ahead of the exit. "I don't expect them to turn into South Korea or Japan overnight."

The war that began in a blaze of aerial bombardment meant to shock and awe the dictator Saddam Hussein and his loyalists ended quietly and with minimal fanfare.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...6pLid%3D121146

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

This is it. Finally we're out of Iraq. This morning the last US troops left Iraq and crossed into Kuwait.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/1...6pLid%3D121146

Thank God. Too bad we have a 17,000 embassy presence... yeah im sure none of those have any sort of military background... I will say this: Obama can sure half-truth his way through anything! I am glad we are getting outta there though.

Originally Posted by danboy9787

Thank God. Too bad we have a 17,000 embassy presence... yeah im sure none of those have any sort of military background... I will say this: Obama can sure half-truth his way through anything! I am glad we are getting outta there though.

The security force guarding the US Embassy in Baghdad are contract employees, not military. There are no Marine embassy security personnel.

And how has Obama half truthed his way during this withdrawl? He's kept his promise to leave Iraq.

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

The security force guarding the US Embassy in Baghdad are contract employees, not military. There are no Marine embassy security personnel.

And how has Obama half truthed his way during this withdrawl? He's kept his promise to leave Iraq.

Yeah but the thing is that most embassies only have like maybe 10 guards/soldiers, not 17.000 like the Iraq embassy has.

I’m glad we left Iraq, now we just need to leave every other nation. I don’t think we should be the worlds peace keepers.

I do say we need a strong military though. And a strong attack if someone attacks us. But not to rebuild their nation afterwards. We just need to keep out of other nations business as much as possible.

Now, IRAN!

Originally Posted by Jason Bourne

The security force guarding the US Embassy in Baghdad are contract employees, not military. There are no Marine embassy security personnel.

And how has Obama half truthed his way during this withdrawl? He's kept his promise to leave Iraq.

Yes with half of the 17,000 being contracted as security. thats alot

I don't think we will be out of Iraq ever. From how that embassy has been described it should be classified as a military base.

Why do we have contractors there for security and not US troops? I would prefer the money go into the pockets of our troops. Does this bother anyone else?

Originally Posted by danboy9787

Yes with half of the 17,000 being contracted as security. thats alot

It's a dangerous country and our embassy compound is quite large.